Taiwan

National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH), in collaboration with multiple medical centers across Taiwan, has found that patients with hepatitis C remain at a significantly elevated risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) even after successful viral eradication with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), particularly if metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is present.

By combining demand-driven life cycle assessment with a multi-objective optimisation framework, researchers identified potential optimal solutions for reusable bubble tea packaging systems under actual market demand conditions. The results show that material selection and low reuse frequency dominate both economic costs and environmental impacts, while durability and logistics become increasingly important as reuse frequency increases.

Researchers at National Taiwan University and partner institutions, led by research associate Dr. Raúl Tapia and Associate Professor Sze Ling Ho at the Institute of Oceanography, have uncovered new evidence that Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) — a distinct layer sitting 500–1,500 meters below the ocean surface — played a pivotal role in a major atmospheric carbon dioxide transition that occurred roughly 450,000 years ago. The findings, published in Science Advances, challenge the prevailing view that changes in the deepest layers of the Southern Ocean alone drove this shift, and point instead to intermediate-depth circulation as a previously underestimated regulator of Earth’s carbon cycle.

Researchers have developed a new framework that uses artificial intelligence to monitor wastewater treatment in real time, ensuring environmental safety while maximizing resource recovery. This “twin transition” approach allows facilities to predict system health and optimize energy use simultaneously.

Researchers at National Taiwan University developed bioinspired composites that mimic bone and bamboo structures to improve strength and toughness simultaneously. Using artificial intelligence, simulations, and 3D printing, the team discovered how soft layers near cracks can prevent catastrophic failure.

Researchers at National Taiwan University have developed a liver-directed IL-10 gene therapy that strengthens cancer-fighting immune cells and suppresses liver tumors in mice. The treatment also generated long-lasting immune memory cells that remained in the liver after tumors disappeared.

Dynamic catalyst interfaces offer a smarter route for converting CO2 into formic acid.

Data-driven models provide precise prediction on charging-phase of desalination technology building a bridge between data-driven insights and physicochemical principle to lay a strong foundation for system parameter optimization.

A National Taiwan University study shows that traffic particles can create sharply localized exposure hotspots near busy roads, intersections and elevated corridors. The findings suggest that targeted street-level planning may better protect children and other vulnerable groups than citywide averages alone.

Researchers have created a self-powered fiber sensor that can detect oil in water and respond quickly to dangerous heat. The system works without an external power source and could support real-time safety monitoring in marine and industrial environments.

Hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for 5-10% of all CRC cases, influencing familial risk and early onset. This study revealed the genetic landscape of CRC in Taiwan, identifying novel and population-specific variants that enhance hereditary risk assessment.

Researchers uncovered that an orthogonal molecular architecture directs the formation of a rare double-cable structure, offering a new blueprint for advancing the fundamental design of energy-active materials. By guiding charges to move along separate pathways, the new design minimizes energy loss and boosts clean energy generation.

This study uses an IO-MFA model to reveal that recycled polyester is currently concentrated in low-value industries, identifying high-value invisible pathways in indirect supply chains to foster strategic industrial matchmaking. It provides a data-driven framework for policymakers to design "pull" mechanisms, such as mandatory recycled content, to redirect materials toward higher-margin economic streams.

Researchers from National Taiwan University break traditional frameworks by unveiling a new symmetry-transition mechanism in ZrO2 thin films, achieving ultra-stable antiferroelectric behavior for up to one hundred million cycles.

Researchers from National Taiwan University and Chulalongkorn University developed a copper-based catalyst system that improves low-temperature methanol synthesis from carbon dioxide hydrogenation by balancing two key steps in the reaction.

By conducting the world’s first randomized clinical trial, researchers have demonstrated that, while overall survival rates remained comparable in this initial phase, TEE-guided precision CPR enhances end-tidal CO2 levels (indicating better CPR quality and forward blood flow), transforming traditional "blind" compressions into a data-driven science. This groundbreaking research published in JAMA Internal Medicine paves the way for individually customized resuscitation—challenging global standards to maximize survival for millions worldwide.

Researchers have mapped how genetic switches are regulated in East Asian populations, identifying tens of thousands of unique markers linked to complex diseases. This massive dataset bridges a crucial diversity gap in genetics, paving the way for more inclusive translation of genetic discovery worldwide.

A mitochondrial enzyme, Ak4, strengthens immune defense by promoting mitochondrial DNA synthesis and enhancing macrophage antibacterial activity.

Researchers from National Taiwan University have engineered a novel dynamic chitosan hydrogel that senses environmental changes and redefines the boundaries of 3D printing.

A research team from Taiwan has developed a novel hybrid air-conditioning system integrating shallow geothermal energy and a desiccant wheel. Field tests confirm it significantly reduces energy consumption by up to 34.3% in hot and humid climates, offering a promising solution for net-zero buildings.

Published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, a novel study led by National Taiwan University connects plant and insect physiology, chemical ecology, molecular function, and evolutionary analysis to offer a new perspective on plant–insect coevolution.

National Taiwan University researchers have engineered a dual-targeting nanocarrier that safely sneaks potent chemotherapy past the blood-brain barrier. By homing in on a specific protein (FAP) expressed by both the glioblastoma cells and their protective “helper” cells, this approach directly shrinks the deadly tumor while reprogramming the immune system to join the fight.

This study introduces a co-assembly strategy using two newly designed donor–acceptor self-assembled materials, LYS-H and fluorinated LYS-F, to overcome aggregation, wettability, interfacial contact, and crystallinity limitations of Me-4PACz in inverted perovskite solar cells. The fluorinated LYS-F delivers a power conversion efficiency of 25.02%, a fill factor of 83.64%, and improved ambient stability, highlighting its strong potential for the future commercialization of high-efficiency perovskite photovoltaic technologies.

A research team at National Taiwan University found that abnormal blood flow activates CB1 receptors in endothelial cells, promoting vascular inflammation and dysfunction. Soy-derived isoflavone prodrugs that inhibit CB1 may help protect blood vessels and prevent atherosclerosis.

Researchers at National Taiwan University developed a unified model that explains how thickness, defects, interface quality, and roughness together control the behavior of ultrathin oxide transistors. The work provides practical design rules for building low-leakage, normally-off devices suitable for future 3D chip stacking.

Scientists discovered a natural “brake” protein in immune cells that stops harmful overreactions during serious infections. When this brake is missing, the body’s defense cells go out of control and damage organs, but restoring it could open the door to better treatments for life-threatening sepsis.

Researchers at National Taiwan University have developed a tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy platform that can identify tiny structural differences in oligosaccharides without fluorescent labels. The method can distinguish glycosidic linkages, estimate chain length, and even follow glycan synthesis in real time.

Enhancement of OER has been demonstrated via co-doping of Co/Ni into FeS2, which surpasses the performance of traditional expensive RuO2 as OER electrocatalyst.

A study, published in Small, has introduced a breakthrough solution in the form of a 3D-printed, auxetic hydrogel dressing known as MX/CPDs@PBGC.

C-terminal variations, arising from mutations and regulatory processes, can either stabilize or destabilize proteins, challenging the traditional view that aberrant termini primarily trigger degradation.